A+ Schools participation down by 20 percent

A+ Schools participation down by 20 percent

Shown above is the College and Career Fair held Sept. 20, 2017 at Fulton High School.

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The number of students participating in the A+ Schools Program at Fulton High School is decreasing, according to the June Fulton Board of Education packet.

Board members will hear an annual program report at tonight's 7 p.m. meeting at the FHS library.

The A+ Schools program provides scholarship funds for participating students. The funds can be applied towards tuition at many Missouri colleges, including community colleges, some four-year schools, and vocational and technical schools. Participants must earn a 2.5 GPA or above, maintain good attendance and complete 50 hours of tutoring, among a few other requirements.

According to the board packet, this is Fulton High School's 24th year participating in the program. Participation climbed steadily during the first nine years, followed by a plateau. Then numbers began dropping.

In 2014-15, 51 percent of high school students participated. There was a slight drop in 2015-16, with 49 percent participating. The rate dropped in 2016-17 to 33 percent, or one in three students.

Participation took an even sharper dive during the most recent school year. Only 13 percent of students were active in A+ tutoring, the board packet states. No reason was given for the continued decline in participation.

Information about the program is readily available. Freshmen and new students receive packets about it. A+ representatives are on hand during FHS College Night and during parent/student/teacher conferences. The Fulton High School website also has information about the program.

During tonight's meetings, board members will evaluate the program's performance.

There are multiple other items on the board agenda, which may be viewed on the district's website.

Some have to do with ongoing contracts and other budgetary matters.

Board of Education members will vote to establish the cost per student for attendance at Fulton Public Schools, based on operating expenditures plus debt services expenditures. (As a public school, FPS is, of course, free to attend.) Administrators are recommending setting the tuition at $11,347 for the 2018-19 school year, up from $10,844 the previous year.

The board will also be appointing a Title IX non-discrimination compliance coordinator, district homeless coordinator, migrant and English-language learner coordinator, and a foster care liaison.